[fabia_firstcar]

Originally Posted by MotorDev

The next day, we headed early to Vijayawada. The first 2 hours of the road were horrible – broken patches everywhere. Lost a lot of time there, but as soon as we hit the highway, we covered the lost time. Quick lunch at Padmavathi Vilaas near Nellore – an amazing lunch indeed

Nice write up! Always a pleasure to read about how good VAG cars on long drives. Quick question - how are the road conditions between Tirupati and Nellore. I need to do a Bangalore-Nellore-Bangalore trip in Feb. I know the roads are great till Tirupati but not sure after that. I need to do it in one weekend - one day onward and one day return

[MotorDev]

Originally Posted by fabia_firstcar

Quick question - how are the road conditions between Tirupati and Nellore?

Hello, the initial 100 kilometres from Tirupati might be challenging. Although you'll encounter some well-maintained roads in between, most of the other roads are in poor condition. Once you transition to NH16, the road conditions will improve, allowing for faster travel.

[Kickdown]

Originally Posted by MotorDev

VW cars have fewer rattling noise issues due to their straightforward interiors, while Skodas may experience such problems due to the presence of less sturdy materials, such as the ambient light strip, to name a few.

Possible. Sad that such an elite brand cuts corners for whatever reasons and then losses its USP which used to be 'Sturdy build quality' inside out. Only saving grace is the 5 star safety rating which I believe is more important.

Originally Posted by Game_of_Roads

I've had multiple conversations with Skoda Bangalore ASS's "Master Technicians"and as per their experience almost all of the squeaking/rattling in the Slavia comes from 2 sets of plastic trims of sub par quality and thickness - the broad glossy black insert that runs just above the glovebox and the golden/copperish colour trim that houses the ambient light. I've checked this multiple times and find this claim to be accurate. I also did some DIY foam tape fixes underneath and between the glossy black strip and the glovebox and the squeaking from the side has reduced a lot. Only on really hot days and when parked a lot under the sun does the squeaking/rattling from these parts come back.

I feel the VW counterparts actually seem to use better plastic trims and their design for these glossy trim elements seems more integrated with the dash from all sides than being layered one on top of the other like in the Skoda design and consequently squeak and rattle lesser.

Yeah, that makes sense. Also I guess there are less number of pieces glued together on the dashboard in the VW cars than that of Skoda. Skoda should look to redesigning their dashboard in the facelift. The fact that you were able to reduce the noise by a mere foam tapes shows how simple the solution should be. Surely, Skoda is better that this.

[MotorDev]

No new info, just found a pic of our old 4th gen Honda City. Compared it with the Slavia. Gotta say, even after 10 years, the City still looks pretty good. It aged well:

Front -

Rear -

[MotorDev]

11,000 KMs and 479 Days of Slavia 1.5L DSG Ownership

Note: Click on the images for higher resolution.

It's been over a year since we brought home our Skoda Slavia 1.5L DSG. The car has been through daily city traffic, two long 2000+ km road trips, rural roads, and a few ghat sections.

The odometer now reads 11,365 KMs, and here’s our experience with the car so far. Hopefully, this will be helpful for anyone considering the Slavia.

Key details

:

• Model: Skoda Slavia 1.5L DSG
• Purchase Date: 11th May, 2023
• Kilometers Driven: 11,365 Kms
• Fuel Type Used: Primarily XP95, occasionally XP91 (used three times)
• Number of Services: 1 (first service, labour cost: free)
• Mods: None

Skoda Slavia — Pros:

• Build quality: Solid exterior build, gives a reassuring feeling.
  
  
• Engine & gearbox: The 1.5L TSI paired with the 7-speed DSG works seamlessly. There’s no noticeable turbo lag, and gear shifts are smooth.
  
  
• AC: The AC performs well, even up to 40°C. No tripping issues so far.
  
  
• Ride & handling: Excellent ride comfort and handling. The car feels stable on highways and around corners, with good steering feedback.
  
  
• Comfortable seats: The seats offer good support, reducing fatigue during long drives.
  
  
• Headlight performance: Good throw and spread, covering most of the road ahead.
  
  
• Sound system: The 8-speaker setup, including the subwoofer, delivers impressive sound quality.
  
  
• Braking: The brakes perform well, giving you confidence.
  
  
• Wireless connectivity & charging: Wireless connectivity and the wireless charger work well.
  
  
• Fuel efficiency: Mileage ranges from 10 KM/L in heavy traffic to 17.4-18 KM/L on highways.
  
  
• Boot space: Ample boot space, accommodating large amounts of luggage.
  
  
• Feature set: Useful features like, automatic headlamps, automatic wipers, adjustable front armrest, rear armrest, Isofix anchors, ambient lighting, etc.
  
  
• The Lava Blue colour stands out beautifully during the day and at night.
  
  
• Instrument cluster: Displays a lot of useful information and is easy to customize. Good clarity on both the cluster and the infotainment system.
  
  
• Connected car tech: Basic connected features like geofencing, fuel log, trip data, drive score, and speed alerts work well and update quickly.
  
  
• NVH levels: The cabin is quiet, with road and wind noise only noticeable at speeds over 100 km/h.

Skoda Slavia — Cons:

• Reverse camera: Missing adaptive guidelines, and the camera quality is below average.
  
  
• Interior rattles: Rattling noise from the piano black trim on the dashboard.
  
  
• Wheel nut caps: Loose wheel nut caps from the factory, had to get new ones.
  
  
• Ventilated seats: Not very effective on really hot days.
  
  
• Suspension: The suspension feels stiff, which can be uncomfortable for elderly passengers.
  
  
• Ground clearance: Though 179 mm is good, the sedan’s low approach and departure angles mean it scrapes on larger speed breakers and potholes.
  
  
• The car, especially the rear, attracts a lot of dust, making maintenance difficult.
  
  
• Touch-based AC controls: The touch controls for the AC are difficult to operate while driving.
  
  
• Piano black trims: These are hard to maintain and prone to smudges and scratches.

Any major issues or niggles?

Thankfully, there haven't been any significant issues so far. However, a couple of minor problems have surfaced:

Rattling noise: This issue emerged early on. During the first service in March, the service centre addressed it to some extent. While the noise has reduced noticeably, it’s still present, especially on rough patches of road, though not consistently.

Brake squealing: The brakes made squealing noises on ramps and in heavy traffic, which was particularly irritating in stop-and-go situations. Thankfully, this issue has been fixed.

D1 to D2 jerk: This is a known issue in all VAG 2.0 cars. Before the service (around the 7,000 KMs mark), the jerk in D1 and D2 was terrible. Even on small imperfections or flat speed breakers, the gearbox would shift from D2 to D1.

It didn’t stop there; it would hold D1 until 4,500 to 5,000 RPM before shifting to D2 in a very harsh manner, making everyone lurch forward. I also noticed that this was more pronounced during cold starts.

I mentioned it to the SA, and he said they would run a scan on the DSG using OBD to check for any errors. I assume they might have reset the DSG (I'm not sure) because now the experience is buttery smooth. Yes, it still occasionally shifts to D1 on rough patches, but the transition to D2 is no longer harsh.

First service details:

Engine oil replaced (4.7 litres): Rs. 3,149
Oil drain plug replaced: Rs. 190
Sunroof lubrication: No charge
Oil filter replaced: Rs. 206
Pollen filter replaced: Rs. 466
Windshield washer fluid: Rs. 130
12V socket fuse replaced (blown fuse): Rs. 38
New wheel nut caps installed (old ones fell off): Rs. 228
Wheel alignment and balancing: Rs. 1,121
Misaligned A-pillar trim fixed: No charge
Dashboard rattling noise addressed: No charge
Brake squealing issue fixed and cleaned: Rs. 741
AC disinfectant (requested): Rs. 1,012
Engine coating (requested): Rs. 800

Total damage to the pocket: Rs. 8,081 (including add-ons like AC disinfectant, engine coating, and parts like wheel nut caps)

• First service cost without add-ons and parts: Rs. 4,141
• First service cost including wheel alignment and balancing: Rs. 5,262

I was surprised that the air filter was only cleaned and not replaced. The service team mentioned it would be replaced during the second service.

The mileage has definitely improved. Previously, it was 11.6 km/l in normal traffic, and now, under similar conditions, it stretches to 13.3 km/l. The engine has also become smoother at higher revs and feels more open on the highway compared to the initial months.

Service experience (Raja Skoda Service, Mahadevapura):

The service was good, and the overall cost was reasonable. However, the charges for wheel balancing and alignment seemed a bit high. The service team also fixed the slight off-centre issue with the steering, even though we hadn’t mentioned it when we left the car. The car was delivered on time, and the service advisor provided regular updates. Fortunately, there were no scratches or damages to the car, unlike some past reports from other Team-BHPians. Overall, it was a pleasant experience, and I would recommend Raja Skoda Service, Mahadevapura, to everyone.

Skoda’s Blaupunkt dashcam issue (Fixed):

The connecting wire (12V connector) broke, and finding a replacement was a hassle. Blaupunkt's ASS wasn’t helpful. We asked the service centre for the dashcam connector wire, but they said they couldn’t provide just the wire and that we'd need to buy the entire dashcam instead.

They charged Rs. 1,180 for the installation of the dashcam.

After some research, I found a high-quality dashcam wire on Amazon for just ₹500. The 10-foot-long wire worked perfectly, and the dashcam is now functioning fine.

Are we happy with our decision?

Yes, we are extremely happy. My dad enjoys driving the Slavia, and it never fails to bring a smile to his face. The car is comfortable, well-equipped with features, and the service costs have been reasonable. Overall, the experience has been great so far, and the car has exceeded expectations in many areas.

Would I recommend the Skoda Slavia 1.5L DSG?

No: If you prefer a car for sedate driving and primarily use it for city commutes, the DSG may not be ideal. In that case, the 1.0L AT variant might be a better fit. Also, if you're looking for a no-nonsense car that can run reliably for 10-15 years without much hassle, the Honda City could be a better option .

Hell yeah : If you enjoy spirited driving and want a fun, feature-packed, yet spacious sedan that keeps the family happy with a good balance of comfort and tech, the Slavia 1.5L DSG is a great choice.

Living with the Slavia:

At Food Pyramid NH16:

Interesting observation: the number plate light has an Audi logo. That's cool, lol!

Piano black trims are hard to maintain, and small scratches are an eyesore:

The ceramic coating and PPF have held up well after 1 year, with only minor swirls that aren't visible to the naked eye. The picture below is unedited:

When the front ventilated seats are turned on, air flows from the bottom of the seats to the rear passengers' legs, which feels good on a hot day:

A parting shot. Cheers!

[rkv_2401]

Glad you're having a good time with the car.

Originally Posted by MotorDev

I mentioned it to the SA, and he said they would run a scan on the DSG using OBD to check for any errors. I assume they might have reset the DSG (I'm not sure) because now the experience is buttery smooth. Yes, it still occasionally shifts to D1 on rough patches, but the transition to D2 is no longer harsh.

My DSG has always done this. This appears to be normal behaviour on rough patches. The previous behaviour of holding D1 till 5000RPM and shifting harshly was abnormal.

[somersault]

Thank you for the wonderful write-up. it clearly shows that you are in love of your car. Compared to your old 4th Gen Honda City, how do you rate the experience of owning the Slavia on "Feels good to own" factor.

[MotorDev]

Originally Posted by somersault

Thank you for the wonderful write-up. Compared to your old 4th Gen Honda City, how do you rate the experience of owning the Slavia on "Feels good to own" factor.

Thank you! I would rate the Slavia higher on the "feels good to own" factor. While the 4th Gen Honda City was a strong 8/10 for its reliability, smoothness, and space, the Slavia takes things a notch higher. It offers awesome performance, more features, and better driving dynamics, so I’d rate it a 9/10. It is definitely the better car to own .

[Rapid]

Hi MotorDev! You were the first one to post on my intro thread, so I'll remember you for sometime now .
Back on track, remember the Rapid I had? Yeah, that pretty much did not have any jerks anywhere, either on patches or on ramps.
Off topic, we sold the Rapid and bought a pre-worshipped 2017 BMW X1 sDrive 20d xLine!

[shiv11bhargava]

A thing of beauty is a joy forever.

She is an absolute head turner! Wishing you have many many years of good times with her.

[Vinod_nair]

@MotorDev, congrats for a well maintained Slavia, everytime I look at the side profile especially in this colour reminds me of the M series.

Enjoy your ride.

[akshayhonda]

Thank you MotoDev for the detailed experience thus far. Looking forward to the updates as days go by. Im currently driving a 84K done i20 diesel. Im also planning on replacement and was considering the Slavia (Skoda service is much better than VW in Goa)

And things like camera keeps me away and also my car can comfortably do a couple years more and I would clock 30-40K KMS by then. And as new Slavia facelift is been spotted testing im keen on the Monte Carlo of that model when it comes. Till then I will stick around to know how and what and why.

[GForceEnjoyer]

Fantastic, fantastic documentation of your ownership journey so far, keep it up! Intrigued to hear about the behaviour of your DSG gearbox, I hope this has not resurfaced? Another way to avoid this is to keep the car in manual mode (and staying in first) when ascending steep inclines and/or crawling. Always works with us.

May your Slavia keep on munching miles effortlessly. All the best to both you and your car.